Both were charged with two counts of bribery, one count each of solicitation to bribe and conspiracy to bribe. All charges are third-degree felonies, which carry maximum penalties of five years in prison.

Maroney said the two wanted to bribe Brown to arrange a favorable settlement of Lindsay's pending divorce from his wife. He said a state official called police after being approached two weeks ago about the possibility of bribing the judge.

Maroney would not identify the official. Sources close to the investigation said it was Eveline Wagner, who works at the state probation and parole office in Orlando, and is a good friend of Brown's wife. Wagner could not be reached for comment.

Brown, 63, a judge in Orange and Osceola counties for the last 14 years, handles civil cases in Osceola County, where the divorce suit between the Lindsays has been pending since late last year. He would not comment. Sources said the judge never met with Lindsay and Ammerman but sent a ''written communication'' to them so they would think he would go along with their plan. Agents said Lindsay had been married 12 to 15 years and was worried his wife would get some of the assets from his dealership, worth several million dollars. Sources said he was worried that his wife was planning to move out of state with their two sons and that he wanted to get an order preventing her from moving. Deborah Lindsay could not be reached for comment.

Agents said Ammerman, who was negotiating to buy part of the dealership, told Lindsay he could help with the case and approached Wagner, who immediately called police.

Sources said Wagner helped in the investigation by pretending to set up the two with Brown's son, who in reality was FDLE agent Mike Lanfersiek.

In several meetings with the two men, they gave the undercover agent a 1986 Toyota MR2, a sports car worth about $15,000, and $5,000 in cash, Maroney said.

He said Lindsay and Ammerman promised the agent another $10,000. A meeting to discuss the plan was set up at the dealership Wednesday, at which the two were arrested. Lindsay and Ammerman were being held in the Osceola jail on $15,000 bail.